patrick.net

Blue says

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/us-embassy-india-attention-visa-applicants-if-you-have-received-an-email-/articleshow/125884312.cms#

Now applicants should go through social media vetting process!

The U.S. Department of State significantly expanded digital vetting for H-1B and H-4 visa applicants starting December 15, 2025, requiring them to set all social media profiles (like X, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn) to "public" for consular review to check for security threats, inconsistencies with visa applications, or support for terrorism, a policy mirroring existing rules for student visas and increasing processing times and risks for H-1B workers.

What's New (Effective Dec 15, 2025)

Mandatory Public Profiles: All H-1B (skilled worker) and H-4 (dependent) applicants must make their social media accounts public for consular officers to review.

Scope of Review: Officers examine posts, comments, photos, affiliations, and professional profiles for potential red flags like anti-U.S. sentiment, links to terrorism, or efforts to steal tech info.

Consistency Check: Online info must match petition details (job, employer, dates, education); discrepancies can lead to delays or denials.

Dependent Impact: Posts by H-4 dependents can affect the principal H-1B worker's visa.
Why It's Happening

National Security: The State Department views every visa adjudication as a national security decision, using online vetting to identify threats.

Broader Enforcement: This expands existing vetting for F, M, and J (student/exchange visitor) visas and is part of wider immigration enforcement.

Trump Administration Initiative: This policy stems from efforts to tighten screening for skilled worker visas, notes Bloomberg Government News.
Impact on Applicants & Employers

Increased Delays: Expect longer visa stamping processes and administrative holds.

Higher Risk: International travel for H-1B holders becomes riskier due to potential scrutiny.

Employer Preparedness: Companies need to build flexibility into project schedules and advise employees to manage their online presence carefully, notes Seyfarth Shaw LLP, Fisher Phillips, and JD Supra, say JD Supra.

@atalovesyou
·
23h
H-1B workers right now:

Sitting in India.
Visa appointment cancelled.
Rescheduled 6 months out.
Can't return to U.S.

Can't interview anywhere else.

Merry Christmas.
https://x.com/atalovesyou/status/1998494953702379979?s=20

I love this poster, he is completely devoted to the idea that the US exists to give jobs to India.

https://x.com/aaronsibarium/status/1997026977711337885

Many IT firms are posting job ads that unlawfully bar applications from US citizens.

Several of the firms are minority-owned—meaning they receive preferential access to government contracts at the same time that they exclude US workers.

We've found dozens of examples. ...

Kasmo, a Texas-based IT firm, didn’t even bother with the acronym, writing on Glassdoor that “NO US Citizen” was eligible for a job training program. Kasmo—whose top ranks appear to be composed entirely of Indian nationals—states on its website that “diversity is our strength.”

https://www.wnd.com/2025/12/inside-global-visa-cartel-replacing-americas-middle-class/

Inside the global visa cartel replacing America’s middle class

Patrick says

Patrick says

https://www.wnd.com/2025/12/inside-global-visa-cartel-replacing-americas-middle-class/

Inside the global visa cartel replacing America’s middle class

The article discusses "benching," where H1B's are warehoused at subsistence living until they can be deployed. When I had to relocate, there were "corporate" short term housing arrangements that cost a ridiculous amount (3X or more going rent). Looking back now, these were probably connected to the whole H1B "benching" system.

Anecdotal data suggests, I think employers are a bit slow down in hiring non US citizens. The current vibe reflects a tension between the new work visa rules and the uncertainty of approval for keeping the employees beyond 3 years even for people coming from US universities.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/even-your-youtube-comments-immigration-lawyer-advises-visa-applicants-to-google-themselves-before-embassy-interview-for-social-media-vetting/articleshow/125952039.cms#

All visa applicants are busy deleting their comments and closing accounts unless using anonymous accounts.
State department says looking at the past 5 years activity not sure that would include backups!

https://x.com/ChiefEngineerCE/status/2000674979319517643

MolotovCocktail says

MolotovCocktail says

Fucking do it!

https://barsoom.substack.com/p/dei-the-dispossessed-generation-and

That rage is in large part what pushed Trump into the White House, and for all the caterwauling about the Orange Dictator, the general feeling amongst the young white men is that Trump is a big softy, an out of touch boomer who doesn’t have the steel to do what’s necessary, but is tactically useful because he provides room to manoeuvre. It doesn’t help when Trump meets with Indian CEOs to discuss bringing in even more H1Bindians to deprive even more young white men of good jobs in the tech sector, particularly when the CEO in question was caught on camera straight-up ordering his minions to not hire white men.

LOL


Help! I'm stranded in the country of my citizenship!

Patrick says

hat rage is in large part what pushed Trump into the White House, and for all the caterwauling about the Orange Dictator, the general feeling amongst the young white men is that Trump is a big softy, an out of touch boomer who doesn’t have the steel to do what’s necessary, but is tactically useful because he provides room to manoeuvre. It doesn’t help when Trump meets with Indian CEOs to discuss bringing in even more H1Bindians to deprive even more young white men of good jobs in the tech sector, particularly when the CEO in question was caught on camera straight-up ordering his minions to not hire white men.

IBM CEO in the picture was a huge supporter of woke ideology in Bidet's administration.

AmenCorner_AntiPanican says

LOL


Help! I'm stranded in the country of my citizenship!

That picture doesn't resemble India to me.

https://x.com/VijayT1609/status/2003294930861441431

That is exactly the mindsets of most of the indian collegues I have worked with, to have that "optionality" for the adults while their young kids are sent back to be acculturated then come back later and reap the benefits here while growing up. To them, America is just an economic bitch they can ass fuck without the courtesy to say thank you. You see that attitude in Vijay's tone in saying "hostile neighbors and political rhetoric" above.

I was once getting annoyed hearing a few indian collegues at a group gathering spouting non stop about how they and their kids need to maintain connection to the "mother land, culture, trying to get dual passports" etc... and asked 'where your loyalty lies' and they looked at me dumbfounded and treacherous because I myself am an asian. You can imagine the looks and stares in the office from then on, forget about all the shit they may say behind my back.

Their hindu/muslim issue there is akin to our black/white political issue here and Modi is the guy these people overwhelmingly support for his hard stand for the hindus and yet, the same courtesy isn't afforded to some of us who want to maintain our US founding traditions and norms here (I'll digress and keep my arguments with them about 2A issue for another time). I believe majority of them vote dems. That is another argument I sometimes have with them to no avil.

Unpublished but finalized: DHS has quietly rewritten the H-1B lottery.

Before this rule even hits the Federal Register, here’s what actually changes … in plain English … based directly on the final rule text (2025-23853).

1. The H-1B lottery is no longer purely random

USCIS is replacing the random lottery with a wage-weighted selection system.

Registrations are still beneficiary-based, but higher wages now get better odds.

2. Wage level determines lottery odds

Each H-1B registration is entered into the selection pool based on the offered wage:
•Wage Level IV → entered 4 times
•Wage Level III → 3 times
•Wage Level II → 2 times
•Wage Level I → 1 time

Every worker is still counted once toward the cap, but higher wages dramatically increase selection probability.

3. Employers must disclose wage details up front

During registration, employers must now submit:
•The OEWS wage level
•The SOC code
•The area of intended employment

These same details must later match the filed petition exactly.

4. USCIS can deny or revoke petitions for manipulation

USCIS explicitly adds authority to:
•Deny amended or new petitions
•Revoke approvals

If the agency believes changes were made to game the lottery (job title, location, wage level, or entity swapping).

5. Entry-level and lower-wage H-1Bs are heavily disadvantaged

DHS estimates a sharp drop in Wage Level I selections.

The rule openly acknowledges that past abuse centered on:
•Lower-paid roles
•IT staffing and outsourcing firms
•Wage suppression of U.S. workers

This rule is designed to reverse that trend.

6. The cap size does not change
•65,000 regular cap
•20,000 advanced degree cap

What changes is who wins, not how many.

7. Effective timeline
•Final rule
•Effective for FY 2027 registration season
•Applies to all cap-subject registrations after the effective date

Bottom line

This rule:
•Explicitly admits the H-1B program has been abused
•Prioritizes higher wages over volume hiring
•Makes entry-level and low-wage H-1Bs far harder to secure
•Gives USCIS stronger enforcement tools

It does not end H-1Bs, but it fundamentally reshapes who benefits from them.

Curious what people think ….does this go far enough?

https://x.com/SanDiegoKnight/status/2003500159288983785

MolotovCocktail says

Unpublished but finalized: DHS has quietly rewritten the H-1B lottery.

Before this rule even hits the Federal Register, here’s what actually changes … in plain English … based directly on the final rule text (2025-23853).

1. The H-1B lottery is no longer purely random

USCIS is replacing the random lottery with a wage-weighted selection system.

Registrations are still beneficiary-based, but higher wages now get better odds.

2. Wage level determines lottery odds

Each H-1B registration is entered into the selection pool based on the offered wage:
•Wage Level IV → entered 4 times
•Wage Level III → 3 times
•Wage Level II → 2 times
•Wage Level I → 1 time

Every worker is still counted once toward the cap, but higher wages dramatically increase selection probability.

3. Employers must disclose wage details up front

During registration, employers must now submit:
•The OEWS wage level
•The SOC code
•The area of intended employment

These same details must later match the filed petition exactly.

4. USCIS can deny or revoke petitions for manipulation

USCIS explicitly adds authority to:
•Deny amended or new petitions
•Revoke approvals

If the agency believes changes were made to game the lottery (job title, location, wage level, or entity swapping).

5. Entry-level and lower-wage H-1Bs are heavily disadvantaged

DHS estimates a sharp drop in Wage Level I selections.

The rule openly acknowledges that past abuse centered on:
•Lower-paid roles
•IT staffing and outsourcing firms
•Wage suppression of U.S. workers

This rule is designed to reverse that trend.

6. The cap size does not change
•65,000 regular cap
•20,000 advanced degree cap

What changes is who wins, not how many.

7. Effective timeline
•Final rule
•Effective for FY 2027 registration season
•Applies to all cap-subject registrations after the effective date

Bottom line

This rule:
•Explicitly admits the H-1B program has been abused
•Prioritizes higher wages over volume hiring
•Makes entry-level and low-wage H-1Bs far harder to secure
•Gives USCIS stronger enforcement tools

It does not end H-1Bs, but it fundamentally reshapes who benefits from them.

Curious what people think ….does this go far enough?

https://x.com/SanDiegoKnight/status/2003500159288983785

Chamber of Commerce. Those are some of the worst people in America, can't find bigger group of jackasses if you looked for one. The Chamber will lecture all of us endlessly about “free markets,” but they panic at the idea of a tight labor market. When workers gain leverage, suddenly it’s a crisis to those jackasses. Suddenly we’re told the country must import more labor by any means necessary, because wages rising is apparently a threat to civilization. Mah markets, mah business needs. It’s about keeping labor disposable and wages low.

FortWayneHatesRealtors says

Chamber of Commerce. Those are some of the worst people in America, can't find bigger group of jackasses if you looked for one. The Chamber will lecture all of us endlessly about “free markets,” but they panic at the idea of a tight labor market. When workers gain leverage, suddenly it’s a crisis to those jackasses. Suddenly we’re told the country must import more labor by any means necessary, because wages rising is apparently a threat to civilization. Mah markets, mah business needs. It’s about keeping labor disposable and wages low.

It's an age old story:



And before that, the Roman yeomanry were destroyed by the mass importation of slaves.